JNU mayhem: lawyers thrash students, scribes

Journalists, senior faculty members and students of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), along with political activists, were on Monday threatened, attacked and beaten up by a group mainly comprising lawyers inside the Patiala House Courts, where JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar was being produced.

The attack, in which at least a dozen people, including seven journalists, were injured, was led by lawyers in the court premises.

The starting point of the mayhem that continued for almost two hours was Court Number 10, where a group of lawyers tried to forcibly evict Kumar's sympathisers. Kumar was arrested on sedition charges for allegedly being a part of what police call an anti-national event last week after a BJP MP accused JNU students of carrying out anti-national activities by organising an event to mark the hanging of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Kumar, who is currently in three-day police custody, was to be produced before the court around 2 pm. However, as soon as lawyers saw a few of his sympathisers inside the court premises, they started calling them traitors.

The group of lawyers also threatened the supporters with dire consequences. Within minutes, the situation turned violent, with lawyers slapping around Kanhaiya supporters, who included senior academicians and students.

Following the assault, lawyers formed a mob and went around the court premises to look for people who ''looked like JNU students'' and continued beating up anyone they suspected of being from JNU.

The wrath of the lawyers then turned towards media persons. At least seven journalists were beaten up by more than 100 people, who were chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Matram.

Among those thrashed by lawyers included a JNU student, Varun. "This is what the right wing always does. They have no other way to resolve issues except thrash people," he said.

Female faculty members of JNU and senior academicians were also assaulted. The mayhem ended by 3.30 pm when all media persons as well as Kumar's supporters came out of the court premises.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA O P Sharma then came out of the court premises and assaulted Communist Party of India leader Ameeque Jamei, halting traffic on the main road around the court. Police intervened and took Ameeque to safety.

"If you think we will be afraid of this, you are mistaken," Ameeque was heard saying before being led away by the police.

Legislator O P Sharma is reputed for foul language and violent behaviour

A dozen journalists from leading news channels and newspapers filed a complaint at the Tilak Marg police station. JNU students and activists of the Communist Party of India, who were thrashed, also filed a complaint.

Senior police officers did not respond to calls and queries as to whether they have registered a case against the lawyers.